Prohibition

During the 1920s one of the most exciting places was the speakeasies. Speakeasies were bars that sold alcohol illegally because of the 18th Amendment. In the Roaring 20s speakeasies were the center of many people’s social lives. Speakeasies like the Cotton Club would be the home of many famous musicians like Duke Ellington. Many gangster could be found in speakeasies like Al Capone who ran Room 21 in Chicago and Owen “the Killer” Madden who owned Cotton Club in Harlem. The 18th Amendment was passed in 1917; its purpose was to end drinking in America. Although it made the buying and selling alcohol illegal, it unintentionally made it more popular. Some people considered drinking fashionable because it was illegal. Speakeasies were the place where people went to drink. In Harlem the Cotton Club was one of the main cultural hotspots during the Harlem Renaissance. Famous musicians played there like Duke Ellington Speakeasies were also the place where many crimes were committed. The famous St. Valentines Day Massacre was located outside Room 21. The reason why there was so much criminal activity around speakeasies was because many gangsters ran the places. The infamous mobster Al Capone ran Room 21 in Chicago and Owen “The Killer” Madden owned the Cotton Club in Harlem. During the 1920s speakeasies was one of the most exciting places around. 

Citation: Hakim, Joy. //A History of US//. New York: 1993. Print Freeman, Alex. "Chicago in the 20s: Eat and Drink Mafia-Style." N.p., Oct. 7, 2008. Web. 14 Mar 2011. []. Boland, Jesse. "During the Harlem Renaissance The Cotton Club was one of the most famous nightclubs in history." N.p., 2010. Web. 14 Mar 2011. .